Times were changing

When Hu Jiumei left, Wen Ning glanced at the time on his phone.

5:02. The timing was just right.

He stood in the middle of the living room, lost in thought for a while. Even Gong Kai has a girl who likes him. There's no reason no girls would like me.

Then he stopped dwelling on it, took out his phone, and called Gong Kai.

The call connected after a single ring. Gong Kai sounded anxious and tense; he had clearly been waiting for news from Wen Ning.

"Wen? How did it go? Where are you? Did something happen?"

"No, everything's fine."

Wen Ning kept his tone perfectly normal.

"Are you off work yet? You can come back. The apartment's safe."

"What exactly is going on? What did you see? What was it?"

Gong Kai fired off a string of questions like a curious child.

Wen Ning hesitated, remembering what Hu Jiumei had said.

Gong Kai was just an ordinary person, so he decided not to tell him too much for now.

"It's too complicated to explain over the phone. Just come back first. Anyway, it's nothing bad, so don't worry."

Gong Kai fell silent on the other end for a moment. Judging by Wen Ning's tone, it wasn't anything bad, and Wen Ning wouldn't hurt him.

"Okay, I'll be there right away."

With that, he hung up.

Wen Ning didn't wait for Gong Kai to return. He locked the door, slipped the key into his pocket, and headed straight back to his shop.

It was already dark when he got there.

He plopped down on the folding chair, took his phone out of his pocket, and opened the Heavenly Court Work Group.

The group was quiet. Lu Ming had toned things down considerably after being warned.

At least he wasn't posting selfies anymore.

Wen Ning thought for a moment, then typed out a message and sent it.

Wen Ning: Seniors, I have another question. I met the one responsible today. She's a Fox Demon named Hu Jiumei, and she only recently attained human form.

This friend of mine saved her life more than ten years ago. She's come back to repay him, but her cultivation isn't strong enough, so she can only appear for an hour each day to help clean his apartment.

My friend doesn't know she exists, and she doesn't dare let him know. Also, can a human and a demon be together?

After sending the messages, Wen Ning put his phone on the table and got up to pour himself a glass of water.

By the time he returned with his water, his phone had started chiming.

He picked it up and looked. Sure enough, it was Lu Ming again.

Lu Ming: Wen Ning, this case is fascinating. A Fox Demon repaying a debt of gratitude—that's the most classic plot in Records of Strange Tales of the Three Realms.

Lu Ming: First, let me answer your main question: can humans and demons be together? The answer is absolutely yes.

It's completely legal and permitted! There are no restrictions against it. Don't let those outdated, clichéd mortal novels mislead you.

Lu Ming: Let me tell you, times have changed. They really were strict about it in the past. Human-demon couples would be separated if they were caught, and in serious cases, they could even be sealed away.

But how long ago was that? After the Investiture of the Gods, order was rebuilt across the Three Realms, and the Heavenly Court revised its marriage laws several times. Under the current Three Realms Intermarriage Regulations, marriage between humans and demons has long since stopped being a violation of heavenly law.

Lu Ming: There are only two core requirements.

First, both parties must consent.

Second, the demon must be able to contain their demonic aura and ensure that it will not harm the mortal.

The second requirement is nonnegotiable. A mortal's yang energy cannot withstand prolonged exposure to demonic aura. In the short term, it might only cause fatigue and a weakened immune system, but living together in close proximity over the long term can cause frailty and chronic illness in milder cases, or shorten their lifespan in severe ones.

This isn't a matter of discrimination. It's a physiological difference, and there's no getting around it.

Lu Ming: So the key issue is your Fox Demon friend's cultivation.

Wen Ning, did you just say she only recently attained human form?

At that, Wen Ning immediately typed a reply: She said she cultivated for twenty years after her human calamity before attaining human form.

Lu Ming: That's not too long. Another twenty years of cultivation after surviving a human calamity is about right.

Lu Ming: But Wen Ning, I have to be honest with you. Taking human form is one thing; containing demonic aura is another. Taking human form means drawing the aura inward and condensing it into a human body. Containing it means suppressing it deep inside the body so none leaks out.

Those two things are on completely different levels of difficulty. Have her try it. Can she keep her demonic aura from being detectable three feet away from her body?

Wen Ning thought back to when he had met Hu Jiumei that afternoon.

The energy of the Five Thunder Righteous Method in his dantian had been restless ever since she walked through the door, which meant she hadn't contained her demonic aura at all.

"Probably not."

He typed his reply.

"My lightning technique sensed her."

Lu Ming: That confirms it. She'll need at least another ten-odd years of cultivation before she can contain her demonic aura below the safety threshold.

So at this stage, she can't live with that mortal long-term. An hour a day is already her current limit.

Lu Ming: But tell her not to lose heart! She's already cultivating very quickly.

Give her another ten-odd years, and she'll definitely meet the standard. Then they can register with the Heavenly Court Marriage Bureau and file their details. Any paperwork can be completed retroactively.

After sending that, Lu Ming stopped messaging.

Wen Ning thought he was finally finished.

He was just about to reply, "Got it. Thanks, Lu Ming."

The screen lit up again.

Lu Ming: Sigh.

It was completely at odds with Lu Ming's usual habit of adding three exclamation marks to every sentence.

Lu Ming: Wen Ning, honestly, I'm a little envious.

Lu Ming: I'm not envious because that mortal has someone cleaning his apartment. I'm envious because someone cares about him.

Lu Ming: "Think about it. She cultivated for twenty years and endured so much hardship. After finally attaining human form, the first thing she did wasn't go off and enjoy her freedom or travel the world. It was come back to clean someone's apartment.

What good deeds did that mortal do in his previous life to make a fox spirit keep him in her heart for so long?

Lu Ming: I have a cave dwelling on Mount Tai too, but I clean it myself. Wen Ning, do you think it's a matter of fate? Some people are born with that kind of luck, while others cultivate for hundreds of years and still end up all alone.

After those messages, Lu Ming went quiet again. Wen Ning stared at the droopy little deer on the screen and was just about to comfort him.

Heavenly Venerable Wen: You want someone to help you clean? Once you officially start work, you can clean my office every day.

Seeing that even his godfather had appeared in the chat, Wen Ning immediately sent a meme: Godfather, you're the best!

Lu Ming replied instantly: Nooo, boss! I won't do it again!

Seeing Lu Ming buckle under pressure from his boss, Wen Ning nearly laughed out loud.

Just then, another message popped up in the group.

Heavenly Venerable Wen: Wen Ning, have your Fox Demon friend register her identity first. Second, she needs to face the matter between her and your friend herself. You mustn't speak for her, and you couldn't do it for her anyway.

Third, until her demonic aura meets the standard, an hour together each day is perfectly fine. Let them get to know each other first. Take it slowly.

Seeing his godfather offering him guidance, Wen Ning immediately sent another meme: Understood, boss.

Far away in the Heavenly Court, Wen Zhong saw Wen Ning being cheeky too, and a faint smile slipped onto his face. "You little rascal."

With the matter settled, Wen Ning put down his phone. It had been a tiring day, and now that he had relaxed, he felt a wave of fatigue wash over him.